3 myths about traveling to Europe alone as a woman...busted!

Don't let all those well-intended warnings determine how you travel - or derail your plans altogether. Seek advice from those who have been, not from those who are too afraid to go.

Accosted by bubbles at the foot of the Colosseum in Rome - 2019. Oh, the terror!

I have received so much well-meaning advice/dire warnings from non-travelers about my choice to travel Europe alone. Most of them riff on the theme of woman alone in foreign country = natural disaster. So, I'm just going to cut to the chase here and bust through the three pieces of "advice" I've received most often about solo female travel - myths that tend to masquerade as common sense. Common they might be. But the sense bit? Not so much.

1. It's too dangerous to go alone!

I'm sure she's got an iPhone with an international plan in that little basket of hers.

Pshaw, says I. I offer the following two scenarios for your consideration.

Scenario 1: Walking with a friend at 9:30 PM in a well-lit, yet deserted, downtown of an American capital city in a Democratic state.

Scenario 2: Walking alone along Las Ramblas in Barcelona on a Friday at 1:00 AM - a week after political riots that saw cars set ablaze. Guess where I felt safer?

I don't think that the majority of my fellow Americans realize that personal safety is not as much a concern elsewhere in the western world as it is in the good ole US of A. And it's not because folks abroad aren't hip to the jive. It's because there's less crime and a larger sense of social solidarity - being mugged or carjacked at gunpoint doesn't enter into the realm of probability for most Europeans. And I think that some Americans unconsciously carry this fear with them when they travel. That can not only prevent you from fully enjoying the trip (or from traveling at all), it can also give off the wrong kind of vibe to people who live in the country you're visiting.

It's more than reasonable to be wary of things like taking rides in vehicles that aren't registered cabs, or leaving your bag or phone unattended in a busy restaurant. But acting as if every person you come in contact with is somehow going to rob you of your credit cards and passport? Frankly, it's rude.

And makes you stand out like a sore thumb - the very thing not to do when it comes to personal safety. If you are concerned with personal safety, look and act like a local. Not like a panicked, backpack-toting tourist. There are police everywhere, policing, if you need them. Except you won't. It's more likely that you'll learn a thing or two about how the rest of the world lives. (Like aperitivo - OMG!)

Bottom Line: In all of my years of traveling through Europe, I have not once felt unsafe -- even when smart phones weren't a thing. I have felt much more unsafe in my home country doing regular, every day things.

2. You'll need a bag with anti-theft technology in order to deter pick pockets.

This is The Shame. I think they list it on Amazon as a money belt. Same diff.

I'll admit it. I have no fewer than four anti-theft bags at home (including The Shame otherwise known as a money belt). But every time I have taken one of those types of bags with me, I have ended up buying a lovely, reasonably-priced leather bag and using that instead - just like everyone else walking down the street.

There is one exception to this: backpacks. You need a backpack with anti-theft technology because it's a bad idea to go around with a backpack to begin with. Travel backpacks aren't just a fashion faux pas in Europe, they are easy targets for pickpockets -- because your back is literally turned on every precious belonging you chose to have on you just in case you might need something while you're walking around in towns that have been hoppin' since before the Roman period. I say skip the backpack altogether and get yourself a nice cross-body bag in a lovely seasonal color (either before or after your arrival).

Don't schlep your slurps. You will not die of dehydration if you leave your water bottle at home. Instead, stop at a bar or cafe when you need to take refreshments - like the locals do.

If you absolutely neeeeeeeeed a backpack (acceptable reason: to keep on the bus if you're going on a day tour like I did while in Florence) get one like this and carry it in your normal person cross-body. Use it to carry bulky non-valuables. But keep the valuables separately. Last trip, I got a cross-body iPhone wallet on clearance at a discount store. I used it as my daily get-around-town purse. No one tried to slash the straps while I was standing on a street corner in Valencia. I have also found this bag to be super useful, more roomy, and a little bit rock and roll.

Bottom Line: No, you do not need to buy a bag with this sort of technology to avoid getting pick-pocketed. Carry a bag that screams tourist, and you're more likely to be targeted. And for the love of all that is good, don't use a backpack while exploring unless you're actually on a hiking trail in the wilderness.

3. It's much more expensive to travel by yourself.

Unless "traveling alone" is code for "hiring a private jet," you'll be fine.

Is it though? There are only two things that are more expensive when you travel alone: cab fare, and accommodation. That's it. Oh yes, there are single surcharges for things like cruises, and all-inclusive vacations to resorts in the Caribbean, but that's not the kind of travel we're talking about here. We're talking about the kind of travel that leaves plenty of room for last-minute bookings and reservations - and the savings that come with that. There is always one good seat left at a near sold-out performance, one empty spot at an amazing Tapas bar, and room for one more on a food tour to make an odd number even.

In Europe, there are single rooms made for solo travelers. Yes, they can be tiny (and so can the showers - not really a big deal honestly, unless you need the space for accessibility reasons). But if you can be OK with a single bed and a small shower, it can save you hundreds. If you choose to have breakfast included in your hotel fee (something offered a lot in Europe,) you only pay for yourself. If you choose a double room, most hotels offer a single occupancy rate. When you travel alone, you also don't need to coordinate with someone else's work or life schedule, which might mean traveling during the expensive season. It is ALWAYS better to travel off-season if you can manage it.

Then there are the valuables that are beyond money. You have the ultimate freedom to choose. If you're a planner, you can plan every single second (I don't recommend this, tbh) and if you're a let's-see-where-the-day-takes-us kinda gal, you can let each moment inspire the next.

The opportunities to meet others are more and better when you're alone (partly because you're not busy arguing with someone else about some detail). This means more chances to strike up random conversations that could lead to you singing in the piano bar at the Four Seasons Hotel in Florence, for instance. (True story.) You get to linger where you want to linger and leave early the places that aren't appealing. You also don't have to find out the hard way that your partner/friend's travel style is completely incompatible to yours, or deal with the unfortunate situation of having to take care of someone who has freaked out. Those are the kinds of things that ruin expensive vacations - and relationships. And those are the sorts of things that do not exist when you travel alone. Peace of mind? Priceless.

Bottom Line: Not that much more expensive. Only cab fares and accommodations are more expensive - just like anywhere else in the world. And there are many benefits to solo travel that money cannot buy.

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That's all from here, folks.

What dire warnings from non-travelers have you received about traveling alone?

Drop me a line: allora.andiamo.blog@gmail.com

-K